Grief’s goal, in their own words, was “to play the heaviest, slowest, most mind-numbing music humanly possible” (Lollipop Magazine, 1992).

Boston’s Grief are cited as one of the more influential bands in the sludge metal scene. Formed in 1991 originally as a five-piece, vocalist Jeff Hayward later took over duties as lead guitarist and vocalist after the departure of Jay Stiles.

Grief’s debut album, Come to Grief, would mark a new era for all sludge acts to follow. Taking after a slower and less melodic approach compared to the acts coming from New Orleans and the rest of the deep South, Grief turned the term Sludge metal from a scene to a genre.

Grief claimed to have trouble fitting in with Boston’s local metal scene and eventually split up in 2001, citing a “hostile environment for doom metal bands”. After a reunion lasting from 2005 to 2009, the band officially called it quits. Founding members Terry Savastano and others would go on to form Come to Grief (not to be confused with the album), a tribute band with several ‘revolving-door’ members.